Experience the rainforest

Explore the rainforest without leaving the UK. The Living Rainforest is home to 700 species of plants and animals. Watch birds, butterflies, lizards and a two-toed sloth roam free in our tropical glasshouses.... Read more

Schools programme

Each year, The Living Rainforest's acclaimed education programme welcomes over 25,000 school children. Four tours are available, supporting key subjects in the Curriculum.... Read more

Our history

The Living Rainforest stands at the former site of one of Europe's leading orchid nurseries. In 1993, it re-opened as a rainforest visitor centre. Today, with registered educational charity status, we welcome over 90,000 visitors a year.... Read more

Solutions for sustainable living

The Trust for Sustainable Living, which runs The Living Rainforest, hosts a range of events on contemporary sustainability topics, including the annual International Schools Essay Competition & Debate and Schools Sustainability Challenge. Subscribe to our newsletter (below) for occasional news updates.... Read more

The Living Rainforest is hosting a number of exciting family events over half-term, themed around its Giant Amazon water lilies and its ecological work in Madagascar.

The Living Rainforest is opening its doors for free during half-term to anyone with the name Lily, to celebrate this year’s Giant Amazon water lilies. The lily, which can grow as big as 2.6 metres across and 4.9 metres square, is making a comeback after two years. Children can also enter an art competition with their best drawings of the lily to try and win a return ticket along with a cuddly toy. There are three age brackets, 0-8, 9-12 and 13 and above. The Living Rainforest’s resident artist will be on-hand Monday-Friday to inspire and advise on how to make great pictures and clay models.

There will also be a Madagascar Weekend. This will include nature trails and a talk on ‘Madagascar; culture and diversity’ this Saturday.

“Local Lily Week is a great opportunity for people to come and see these rare plants which only live a short time,” said Rupert West, operations manager at The Living Rainforest. “It is free to anyone with the name Lily and we’re hoping that people of all ages will get involved.”

“This year’s giant water lilies are the best we have seen for a number of years,” he continued. “Allowing visitors to see these plants in their re-created natural habitat will hopefully encourage people to think about the human impact we have on rainforests all around the world.”